LO 6-2 Explain the purpose of lockout/tagout procedures and regulations associated with the release of hazardous energy

Lockout/Tagout Procedures

When servicing or moving a vehicle, it may have unknown but serious safety defects or conditions that prevent its operation. No oil in the crankcase or an engine undergoing an in-frame rebuild are common reasons to lockout and prevent an engine from starting Figure 9. To protect equipment, vehicles, and people from consequential damage from inadvertently starting, moving, or operating, lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures are used. These two interchangeable terms describe an administrative safety procedure to prevent the use of tools, equipment, or materials that are determined to be unsafe or potentially unsafe or to prevent vehicles from starting during service. Lockout involves physically removing broken, unsafe, or out-of-service tools and storing them in a designated place to prevent access Figure 10. Typically, the item is also tagged with a warning label describing the fault, the name of the person who identified the fault, and the date that the fault was found. The tag or label also warns not to use the equipment. Keys are removed from the ignition and stored in another area, such as a supervisor’s or security office.

FIGURE 06-9: This control panel contains a switch that allows a technician to disconnect the driver’s ignition switch to prevent the engine from inadvertently starting when service work is taking place in the engine compartment.

FIGURE 06-10: LOTO procedures can apply to shop tools and equipment to warn others that they should not be used.